Day 1 | jogle-2014

Day 1 - John o'Groats to Tain

Well, we arrived on Friday the 13th (why wouldnt it be) to a 'cool' Inverness with the odd spot of rain. The rest of the UK was basking in glorious sunshine and the forecast looked like it was written by us on the way up on the Easyjet service from Luton, it was a near perfect outlook. Transport arrived as expected, we then loaded up the bikes in to the back of the transporter and got in to the mini-bus. We were accompanied by Stuart Williams, lovely guy who was doing JOGLE on his own over 12 days (i think) not supported and camping rough, not only that it was a training run for a South American Epic in April 2015 .... we felt humbled (not for the last time on this trip).

Shortly afterwards we changed drivers and were joined by a couple who were doing their second JOGLE and here's the punchline, they were 70 & 71. Once we had gathered up our self esteem from the floor and neatly packed it in our rucksacks we proceeded to John o'Groats in a sort of quiet reflective mood. This was undoubtedly the best way to get to the start line, hassle free and cost effective, the only thing I would say is we drove up the road we were going to be cycling down the next day including numerous 20%ers and extended undulating hills. I briefly unpacked my self esteem, stabbed it to death and put it away again.

Back

Route: Day1
Activity: Cycle
Started: 14 Jun 2014 06:21:37
Ride Time: 6:38:13
Stopped Time: 4:32:02
Distance: 87.38 miles
Average Speed: 13.17 mph
Fastest Speed: 39.38 mph
Ascent: 6925 feet
Descent: 6829 feet
Calories: 4979

Temperature - 14oC

Weather - Fog & Drizzle

Wind - 2mph Easterly

Humidity - 100%

Sunrise - 04:04

Sunset - 22:20

On arrival in the car park of the Sea View Hotel we set up our bikes with the help of the transport guy (thank you), everything was in the right place and it all worked well. During the build process in came about a dozen riders from an organised event just finishing LEJOG over 14 days. We got talking to them and in particular I remember the phrases "that was a nightmare, just hill after hill" and "I'll never do anything like this again" ...... I looked at John, he looked at me then we checked in to our rooms and proceeded to the dining room where our deflated expectations led us to consider it as a sort of 'last supper'. However as we left the pub dining room to a man everybody raised a hand or a glass, nodded and said good luck. There was something about that gesture which inspired me and made up for the previous worrying observations.

Saturday 14th June : Our strategy was get up early and break the back of it by lunchtime, whilst this was a bit of a shock to the system it proved an invaluable strategy in terms of our mental capability to cope with the challenge. There is nothing more satisfying than being 60 miles in to 100 mile day by lunchtime. So at 06:38 after putting on our waterproofs on a damp dreach foggy cool morning we took the obligatory photoshoot at the start line and set off, the feeling was one of trepidation and excitement and maybe freedom. "if you only think about today, tomorrow takes care of itself" (very true)

I was tired and struggling to shake of the remnants of a heavy cold and quickly remembered that being wet wasn't comfy on a bike but we continued heading down the East coast towards Wick, a town I knew pretty well from a previous job which had me travelling all over Scotland. All the time it was raining my panniers were getting heavier (I had forgotten about that, tip - buy a waterproof cover!). I was struggling and we reached Wick after 14 miles and went straight to Tesco for a sandwich and a bottle of cough mixture.

Passing the Airport we continued down the A99 until at 34 miles we joined the A9 at Latheron. Now, we were told to steer clear of the A9 but calculated that on weekends it would be ok, as it turns out it was but if we had planned the trip on a weekday we would likely have taken an avoiding route like many others choose to do. At 38 miles is Dunbeath, down a steep hill in to a valley and then up that 20% hill I mentioned earlier for about 2 miles (I think it was actually 18%). John sped off like a bank robber as I died a death having to stop half way up. At this point i'm thinking, bollocks, is this what it's going to be like? but I reassured myself it was because I knew it was coming and my brain had demonised it, we wouldnt know anything after Inverness! I got to the top, met up with John and sat on the damp grass for water and a sandwich. I could tell John was a bit worried but the mutual silence was enough for us both to understand the situation, we left it at that.

Before I left for the trip my mother told me a story that whilst she was pregnant with me we got stuck in a snow drift at the top of Helmsdale, my Dad had to trudge through the snow storm, find a remote phone box (lucky) and call for help, apparantley it was a close call as the car was feezing and so was everyone in it. I had a romantic idea of photographing the phone box if we could find it even although it would be at least 43 years old. Upon arrival there was only a brand new dual carriageway and a population who carry their own phone about so hardly need a red metal box to be maintained on a remote hill. I was a bit of an idiot to think it might still be there. That made me reflect and if i'm honest a bit sad on how life has moved on in a way it's ever more difficult to find true adventure or solitude. Anyway the new road swept gracefully down in to Helmsdale where I needed food as I was fading fast after 53 miles.

We left Helmsdale after a really good lunch, including chocolate fudge cake. The weather had cleared up, I was feeling a bit better and knew we only had 35 miles to go, a mere training run. The scenery was spectacular as we carried the last few hills before the terrain ironed out and we proceeded to Tain. We couldn't go through Tain without stopping at the Royal Hotel for tea and scones interupting a wedding procession who didnt seem too bothered about 2 smelly cyclists. We then cycled along country lanes on the last 6 miles to the Hotel, which was a very welcome sight.

So Day 1 was a tough introduction to JOGLE, nearly 7000ft ascent over 87 miles, we were 10% in and had a calorie carefree meal. The thing about distance cycling is everyone says "I bet the beer tasted good" .... it might just be me but the last thing i want to look at after 80 or 90 miles in the saddle is a beer, especially when you've got to get up again tomorrow and do it again? Pint of orange and lemonade barman please ......

I tried an early night but as I lay in bed trying to ignore my legs shouting at me at 23:00 I had to slip the 1980's grey portable telly fixed to the wall on and made it as far as Mario Ballotelli heading what was the winner for Italy after 50 minutes in the opening game of the World Cup. Final score England 1 - Italy 2. Oh well .....

Take me to Day 2